Air cushion bottom for boats



8, 33%, J. B. SAWYER AIR cusmon BOTTOM FOR BOATS Filed NOV. 5, 1934 INVENTOR ATTORN E WITNE55 Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE Application November 5,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to air cushion bottoms for boats and has for the primary object the provision of a construction which will provide to the bottom of the boat a series of air pockets, each pocket located in a seam in the planking of the bottom and each plank being independent of the planks adjacent thereto, whereby any one of the planks may be removed and replaced by another or repaired without disturbing the other planking.

With these and other objects in view this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully describe-d and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view illustrating a hull of a boat constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view showing the air pockets formed by the planking of the bottom of the boat.

Figure 3 is a similar vie-w to Figure 2 showing a modified form of my invention wherein inner and outer planking is employed.

Figure 4 is. a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates the bottom of a boat and the numeral 2 indicates the sides of the boat. Arranged between the sides 2 of the boat are frame elements or ribs 3 braced, as shown at 4, and recessed to receive chine strips 5 recessed on opposite faces to form seats for adjacent planking 6. The planking at the sides 2 of the boat are secured to the frames 3 and arranged in abutting engagement. The planking 'l constituting the bottom l is secured to the frames 3 and arranged in abutting engagement. The outer planking 1 engages the seats of the chine strips 5. The keel of the boat is indicated by the character 8 and opposite faces thereof are grooved to receive the planking 1 adjacent thereto and secured to the keel is an outside removable shoe 9 overlapping the edges of the planking 1 seated in the grooves of the keel 8. The shoe protects the keel 8 from exterior forces and also by overlapping the plank- 1934, Serial No. 751,621

ing 1 engaging the keel effectively prevents leaks about the keel.

Each planking l on its outer face tapers towards the keel 8 forming between itself and the adjacent planking an air pocket Ill which extends longitudinally of the boat. The air pockets aid in maintaining the boat afloat and to materially cause the boat to rise and draw less water when under headway. It will be seen by the arrangement of the plankings 6 and 1 that any one of the planks may be removed for repair or replacement by another without disturbing the adjacent planks or planking and further it is to be noted that the seams between the planks or planking can be readily calked to prevent leakage.

Referring to my modified form of invention, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, inside planking l I may be applied to the frames 3 and the planking 1 secured thereto. The inside planking may be laid or positioned diagonally while the outside planking I extends longitudinally of the boat.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A boat construction comprising a keel provided with notches in opposite faces thereof and having angularly related faces, ribs having notches-to define angularly related shoulders abutting the angularly related faces of the keel, longitudinally extending planks secured to said ribs and having the longitudinal edges thereof in abutting engagement to form a bottom and seams between said planks and extending longitudinally .of said bottom, a pair of said planks engaging the notches of the keel, a shoe secured to the keel in direct engagement with and overlapping said pair of planks to retain the latter in the notches of the keel and forming therewith at each side thereof a longitudinally extending air pocket, chine strips notched to receive edges of a pair of said planks and secured to the ribs, said planks each having its outer face tapered towards one longitudinal edge thereof to cooperate with one of the longitudinal edges of the adjacent plank to form an air pocket spaced from the air pocket adjacent to the keel shoe, the air pockets extending longitudinally of the bottom and at the seams of said bottom, and side planks secured to the ribs.

JOHN BERNELL SAWYER. 

